The Convention
CPHSCS proposes a dedicated international legal and governance framework for planetary hydrological security and cryosphere stability.
The cryosphere is changing rapidly
Glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice, snow and permafrost are interconnected parts of the Earth system. Their changes affect water resources, ecosystems, infrastructure, sea level and communities far beyond polar and mountain regions.
Fill a governance gap
CPHSCS is designed as a proposal for a dedicated framework connecting cryosphere science with hydrological security, land-based resilience, monitoring, cooperation, finance and implementation.
Proposed structure
The current draft is described as containing 39 Articles and 14 Annexes. The exact text should be treated as a working draft until formally adopted through an international negotiating process.
Conference of the Parties
Proposed supreme decision-making body for Parties after entry into force.
Permanent Secretariat
Proposed administrative and coordination body.
Cryosphere Scientific Panel
Proposed scientific advisory mechanism for evidence, assessment and monitoring.
Legal and policy context
Existing instruments provide context; their inclusion does not imply endorsement of CPHSCS.
| Instrument / initiative | Status | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| UN Charter (1945) | Existing | Foundational international cooperation framework. |
| UNGA Resolution 45/212 | Existing | Historical UN process leading to the UNFCCC. |
| UNGA Resolution 47/188 | Existing | Historical UN process leading to the UNCCD. |
| UNFCCC | Existing | Core multilateral climate framework. |
| Convention on Biological Diversity | Existing | Biodiversity governance. |
| UNCCD | Existing | Land degradation, desertification and drought. |
| UN Watercourses Convention | Existing | International watercourse law. |
| Ramsar Convention | Existing | Wetlands of international importance. |
| UNGA Resolution 77/158 — International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation, 2025 | Existing | UN recognition of glaciers, snow and ice in the climate system and hydrological cycle. |
| UNGA Resolution 78/321 — Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences, 2025–2034 | Existing | Global scientific cooperation for cryospheric sciences. |
| UNEA Resolution 10 (UNEA-7, 2025) — Preservation of glaciers and the broader cryosphere | Existing | Recent multilateral environmental resolution focused on glacier and broader cryosphere preservation. |
| Dushanbe Glaciers Declaration (2025) | Existing | Policy declaration on glacier preservation, resilience and sustainable development. |
| Ulaanbaatar Declaration of UNCCD COP17 (2026) | Existing | Official COP17 outcome document. |
| Rangelands Flagship Initiative | Existing initiative | UNCCD initiative linking rangeland restoration, drought resilience, biodiversity and climate action. |
| CPHSCS | Proposed | Proposed dedicated international legal and governance framework. |